Truck crash kills 52 in Peru

LIMA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- A truck plunged off a cliff in southeastern Peru on Friday night, killing all the 52 people aboard, the National Police said Saturday.

The truck fell into a 200-meter deep chasm while it was sending people home from a party in the provincial capital of Santa Teresa, an official of the National Police was quoted as saying by Canal N television.

The victims included 13 children in the accident in the southeastern province of La Convencion, media reported citing local police.

The authorities have yet to determine the cause of the accident. An investigation was underway to determine whether drunk driving was involved in the accident.

Due to a shortage of buses, people often travel by truck in the province.

Peru has been plagued with poorly maintained roads and inexperienced drivers, a lethal combination behind many road accidents.